Means for transmitting power.



No. 662,077. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

w. LAY.

MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

A limtion filed June 1. 1900. (No Model.) I; Sheets-Sheet I.

( M ventoz v No. 662,077. Patented Nov. 20, I900. W.'LAY.

MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

(Application filed June 1, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shed g.

By m z a Q flmm Tn: NORRIS PETERS co, vno'murwu. WASHINGTON n. c

Patented Nov. 20, I901 w. LAY.. MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

(Application filed June 1, 1900.)

3 SheetsSh'eet 3.

(No Model.)

m: Noflms PETERS co. woro-uwo, WASHINGTON n, c.

NlTED TATES ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LAY, OF KREMLIN, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE- SIXTHS TO W. D. CORNELIUS, H. H. WATKINS, AND W. E. COGDAL, OF

ENID, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,077. at d November 2 1900- Application filed June 1, 1900.

1'0 00 whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kremlin, in the county of Garfield, Oklahoma Territory,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Transmitting .Power, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and improved means for transmitting power, and it is es- :ro pecially adapted for use in imparting motion to propellers and similar means for driving vessels, &c. The invention is also applicable to vehicles of various forms.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a strong and simple device of this character by means of which the propeller or other device to which motion is imparted may be revolved without the use of toothed gears and whereby the motion thereof may be quickly reversed without stopping the engines or reversing their motion.

A further object is to provide friction-gears having means of peculiar construction whereby the same are held in contact by means of air or other similar pressure.

To these ends the invention consists in providing a propeller shaft upon which are mounted friction-gears adapted to contact with other gears mounted at each side ofsaid o shaft and receiving motion from engines in any suitable manner. The gears upon the shaft are slidably mounted thereon and connected to a rod or other similar device which is slidably mounted within the propeller- 5 shaft, the ends of which project into chests formed on each end of the propeller shaft.

These chests receive air under pressure from a pump which is operated by the propellingengines.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claim ed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,showing the preferred form of my inven- 5 tion, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the propeller-shaft partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through one end of the propeller-shaft, showing the .of bolts or in any other suitable manner.

Serial No. 18,759. (No modelh cylinder and the connection between the slidingfriction-disk and the rod. Fig. Lisa section through the three-way valve, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the opposite end of the propeller-shaft and its cylinder.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 l are suitable standards having cross-strips 2, within which is journaled a hollow propeller-shaft 3, which is prevented from moving longitudinally in any desired manner. This shaft projects at each of its ends intoa cylinder l, one of which is secured to an end standard 1 and the other to a hanger 5, at the propeller end of the shaft, by means A rod 6 extends through this shaft and is provided at each end with a piston-head 7, which bears upon a sliding block or piston 8, provided with suitable packing 9 and having a concaved outer face 10, as shown. Aspring 11, which may be of any desired form, bears upon the end of the shaft 3, and the head 7 of the rod serves to hold said heads normally removed from the ends of the shaft.

Asuitable number of sleeves 12 are slidably mounted upon the shaft, and to each sleeve, at each end thereof, is secured a beveled friction disk or gear 13. A cross-pin let is secured within each of these disks l3 and extends through a slot 15, which is formed within the shaft 3 and is secured to the sliding rod 6. It will be understood that each of the friction-disks is secured to the same rod, and all are adapted to be moved at the same time and for the same distance.

The friction-disks 13 are arranged in pairs, with their beveled faces oppositely disposed, each pair adapted to be thrown into contact -with propelling friction-disks 16, which are mounted upon opposite sides of the shaft 3. These disks are secured to shafts 17, which arejournaled within the outer and innerside strips 18 and 19, respectively, connecting the standards 1. A crank 20 is formed at the outer end of each of these shafts, and the cranks upon each side of the frame inclosing the shaft 3 are connected by a rod 21, as shown. A pitman 22 connects each set of driving-disks 16 with a cross-head 23, which is secured to a piston movable within a cylinder 24. One cylinder is preferably provided for each set of propelling-disks; but said cylinders are adapted to receive steam from the same supply, and their pistons are driven alternately, but at the same speed. A pipe opens into a cylinder 29, which is mounted above a chest 26 and communicates therewith through a port 28, having a suitable check-valve therein. An exhaust 27 is also provided within the chest 26. The pipe 25, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a checkvalve which is adapted to prevent the escape of air through said pipe after the same has been drawn into the cyliudeia A piston 30 works within the cylinder and is connected by means of a pitman 31 ,to a gear 32, which receives motion from a similar gear 33, which is mounted upon a short shaft 34, having a beveled pinion 35 thereon. This pinion receives mot-ion from gears 36, whichare mounted upon shafts 37, each of which is provided with a crank 38, secured to one of the connecting-rods 21. It will thus be seen that motion will be imparted from the engine 24 to the pump-piston 30 Whilethe propellingdisks 16 are being revolved. A pipe 39 ex- 1611(18 from the chest 26 intoone end of the cylinder 4 upon the standard 1, and-a threeway valve is located within said pipe at its point of connection with an exhaust 43. A pipe 41 extends from the reservoir '26 to the opposite end of the propeller shaft 3 and into the chest 4, which is" secured to the hanger. .{lhis pipe is also provided with a three-way valve similar to thatshown in Fig. 4 and having an exhaust, as heretofore described.

It will be seen that motion will be imparted to the friction-disks 16 and to the pump-piston 30 through its gears 32, 33, 35, and36 at the same time from the pistons within the cylinders 24 and thatsaid friction-disks'ln-ust be driven in opposite directions in order that motion may be imparted from the oppositelydisposed gears 36 to the intermediate gear 35. The reciprocating motion of the piston 30 of the pump will, as is obvious, draw theair into the cylinder through the pipe25 andcomp'ress the same into the compartment 26,'from which the valve 27 will permitit-to escape when the 1' ton-heads.

pressure reaches the danger'point.

The friction-gears 13 are held normally out} of contact with the propelling-disk 16 by means of the "springs 11, heretofore referredi When it is desired to drive the propeller 3 in one di rection,one of thevalves 40 is turned; for instance, so as to direct air from the pipe 1 39 into the chest 4, which is secured to the standard 1. The valve 40 within the pipe 41 is at the same time so arranged as to perits propelling-disks 16.

air upon the piston 8 will'obviously promptly clam-p these disks together, and it will be seen that motion will be imparted from the propelling-disks 16 to disks 13 and thence to the propeller-shaft 3. It will be seen that the valve 27 will permit the escape of surplus air while the disksare being clamped firmly together. When it is desired to reverse the movement of the propeller, the valve 40 of the pipe 41 is turned so as to direct air into itschest 4, which is secured to the hanger 5, and will thereby throw the rod '6 and the disks secured thereto in the opposite direction, clamping-them firmly upon the propeller-disks, as heretofore described. It will be understood that the air which is left within the first-named cylinder will escape through the exhaust in its valve 40.

While I have sh'ownand described this dovice as utiliztngair forforci ng'the piston 8 and the rods 6 backa-nd forth within the shaft 3, I do not limit my self thereto, as Water-orany other desired fluid may be employed.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without-departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make'such changesas fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a propeller-shaft; of friction-disks adjacent thereto; means for imparting motion to said disks;.disks slidable upon, and adapted to revolve with, the propeller-shaft; a rigid connection between the last-named disks, a piston-head connected to the disks; and means for'directing pressure upon each of the piston-heads.

2. The-combination with a propeller-shaft; of friction-disksadjacent thereto; means for imparting motion to the disks; friction-disks slidable upon, and movable with, the propellevshaft; a rod connecting the slidable disks; a piston-head at each end of the rod, each piston-head movable within a chest; "and means fordirecting pressure upon either of said pis- Thecombination with a frame; of a hollow propeller-shaft journaled therein; friction-disk-s journaled within the frame at oppositesides of theshaft; means for imparting motion to said disks; disks slidable upon,

IIO

and movable with, the propeller-shaft; a rod within said shaft and'connecting theslidable disks; a piston-head atfeach end of the rod; achest for each piston-head; a pipe connecti-ngea'ch chest witha reservoir; apu mp opening into the reservoir; and means 'for'operating said pump.

4. The combination witha frame; of a projournaled within the frame at opposite sides of the shaft; cranks upon theshafts of the 1:.

friction-disks; rods connecting said cranks; cylinders; cross-heads thereto; means for connecting said cross-heads and the connectingrods; a pump-cylinder; a piston therein; a pinion operated by the connecting-rod; gears receiving motion from said pinion and adapted to operate the pump-piston; friction-disks siidable upon, and movable with, said propeller-shaft; a rod connecting said disks; piston-heads upon the rod working within chests secured to the frame; pipes connecting the pump and the chests; and means for directing pressure into either of the chests.

5. The combination with a frame; of a hol- 10w propeller-shaftjournaled therein and provided with transverse1y=extending slots; a slidable sleeve upon said shaft; friction-disks secured at the ends of the sleeve; a cross=pin Within each disk and a slot of the propellershaft; a rod engaged by each cross-strip; chests secured to the frame and inciosing the opposite ends of the rod; and a piston-head secured to each end of said rod.

6. The combination with a frame; of a ho1= low propeller-shaft journaled therein; friction-disks slidabiy mounted upon the shaft and movable therewith; a rod connecting the disks; a piston-head at each end of the rod; a chest inc-losing each piston-head; a reservoir; an escape-valve thereto; and pipes con necting the reservoir and each of the chests.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LAY.- Withesses T. J. DANIEL,

SAMUEL MYERs. 

